Hockey World Cup 2018: The draw kept both the squads in the hunt for the knock-out round with one point apiece from two games.

On Day 6 of FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018, Rio Olympics Gold medalists Argentina beat New Zealand 3-0 in a tough fought match. New Zealand had some opportunities to score but Argentina defends brilliantly. Argentina unsuccessful to convert three Penalty Corner out of four. New Zealand started aggressively but Argentina slowed the game and kept the ball possession to take control of the match. Argentina’s Lucas Vila declared player of the match.

Captain and goalkeeper Quico Cortes led from the front with a superb penalty stroke save to help three-time medalist Spain eke out a hard-fought 1-1 draw against wretch. France in their 2nd Pool A match at the ongoing men’s hockey World Cup 2018 on Monday. The draw kept both the squads in the hunt for the knock-out round with one point apiece from two games. It was an encounter between world number 8 Spain and the lowest ranked squad of the opposition France, who is ranked 20th, but it turned out to be a keenly-contested encounter as the Frenchmen gave their rivals a run for their money.

It was France who surprised the Spaniards in the 6th minute when Timothee Clement scored from a field effort. But Spain returns strongly after the change of ends and bring back parity in the 48th minute through Alvaro Iglesias’ field strike. France had a golden chance to register their first major upset of the tournament but the Spain skipper Cortes came to his side’s rescue. In the last 10 minutes, France was awarded a penalty stroke because of an impediment in front of the goal by a Spain defender after they went for video referral but Cortes made a brilliant save flying to his right to keep Hugo Genestet’s try at bay.

France could not have asked for a better chance to cause the first upset and pocket full 3- points from the match but was denied by Cortes’ brilliance in front of the goal. The Spaniards had better goalscoring chances but were denied by a stout France defence led by goalkeeper Arthur Thieffry. Spain got as many as seven penalty corners in the game but failed to breach Thieffry and his defence even once. Spain had lost 3-4 to Olympic champions Argentina in their tournament opener, while France had to face a 1-2 defeat against New Zealand.